'92 Ranger Problems

[Sobe]

Hello everyone, this is my first post here and unfortuantely it has to be on a bad note but lately i've been having some issues with my '92.

The problems first started when i began to have troubles starting the truck. It was very sluggish to want to start but would eventually catch but on a couple other occasions it just wouldn't start at all. I was told it might be my MAF so i replaced it but she's still a bit on the slow side to fire up.

I also encountered another problem today. I'm having a lot of problems with quick acceleration which makes getting up to highway speeds quite the task and requires really stepping on the throttle. Well today while trying to get up to speed there was a loud 'thud' while i was accelerating and then she started making a ticking/clicking sound as i was driving. It went away but on the way to work this evening i encountered the same sound when i reached a certain spot on the accelerator. This concerns me and i would really like to sort out these issues so if anyone could please give me some help with my problems i would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks,
Taylor

 

[Kona]

Got a check engine light on?Auto or standard?

 

[Sobe]

Sorry i should have specified it's an automatic. And no there's no check engine light on.

 

[289-tiger-]

Good afternoon,

Engine clicking/ticking or drivetrain clicking/ticking? Auto hubs on it?

Sorry for asking you additional questions.

 

[Sobe]

Oh sorry i should have listed everything
Its a 2wd actually so no locking hub issues. From what i could tell it seems like its coming from the drive line but that's just a guess. So perhaps U-Joints or hanger bearing? I'm not quite sure. It just seemed odd to me that it happened all of a sudden after the transmission shifted roughly into gear while on the highway and only occurs when the accelerator is pushed down to a certain position.

 

[289-tiger-]

No problem, I should have looked at the class of 2wd on your thread.

The transmission seems be what feels different to you. Basics? Fluid level? Color of fluid? Where did the thud/clicking noise feel like it came from and lets cut some of these other guy's loose here at the site to help you fix or at least pinpoint the problem.

Good luck

 

[Sobe]

Well my fluid levels are all good and the tranny fluid is still a pretty good red colour. See over the weekend i adjusted my throttle cable because it was really loose and there was about 3/8" between where the throttle would open to and the wide open position. Well now if i try to accelerate quickly i guess the overdrive must kick in and the truck revs up pretty high but really clunks through the gears quite hard until it gets up to bout 70-80 km/h and then its fine. Well that's what happened yesterday when i was on the highway and all of a sudden the clicking/ticking noise started going.

 

[289-tiger-]

Still taking guesses here but trying to help. Is it possible during the adjustments a vacuum line or anything else in the area of the repair were unintentionally disconnected. Is there any ATF in any vacuum lines at the manifold? Maybe reverse previous adjustments to the cable to see if condition improves.

Before reading your thread I have been thinking a u-joint/driveshaft or low lube level in the differential but maybe we are getting closer to the problem now.

Good luck, keep us advised.

 

[Bruce]

Was it the throttle cable you adjusted or was it transmission kickdown cable you adjusted?

 

[Big Jim M]

Was it the throttle cable you adjusted or was it transmission kickdown cable you adjusted?

Bruce I'm thinkn you have hit on his thunk problem.. Sounds to me like he adjusted the cable that was working as it should before the adjustemnt.
Big Jim

 

[Sobe]

I could have sworn it was the throttle cable but then again i could be wrong. I'm hoping maybe if i let the slack back out of the line that might help my problems? I'm just thinking that maybe 289-Tiger- might be onto something with the U-Joint idea. Is it possible that over the course of the hard shifts damage could have occurred?

 

[Sobe]

So i took a look today and i guess i must of adjusted the transmission kickdown accidently while playing with the throttle cable which i guess explains my problems with the transmission clunking.
I've been having trouble starting the truck for the last couple days and today after i eventually got it started i crawled underneath and there was the distinct odour of gas which i'm thinking would explain the starting issues. What do you guys think it could be?

 

[289-tiger-]

There are only a couple of ways to smell gas if you are under the truck bed. Gas smell is never good so take the issue seriously.
-Gas cap
-Fuel filler tube cracked (common)
-Pump to tank seal or rusted fuel pump lines (replace pump)
-broken or deteriorated vent line to evap system ( can be checked w/ compressed air at the evap can line to tank, listen for leaks use low air pressure)
-cracked tank

Do you see any fuel? Glad you found the issue w/ the cable, I was politely trying to get to the point you may have messed something up. Don't worry, we all do that.

Good luck

 

[Sobe]

No there's no sign of leaking fuel so i'm pretty sure it isn't a cracked tank. After the smelt it i checked immediately and there was no leak. I assume this issue with the smell probably has something to do with the starting problems. This is just p*ssing me off right now because it just seems like one thing after another.
Thanks a lot for all the help so far guys.

 

[289-tiger-]

Ok, lets take it one problem at a time. I'm used to dragging the vehicle from the junkyard and making it breathe again.

Let's start with electrical at the source. Battery good? Could cause "slow" starting and Ignition problems. Jumper cables to a fresh system or new battery could indicate. I take it you have checked plugs and wires.

Check Intake hose for loose connections at both sides. All cables and vacuum lines tight? MAF will give you problems associated with the fuel smell from the exhaust and the famous knocking and pinging.

Let's get this thing restarted and tune it up.

Keep smiling and let us know how this site can help you.

There is no such thing as a stupid question.

289-tiger-